Process of making aluminum chloride



Nov. 5, 1929. A. M. BULEY ET A1.

PROCESS OF MAKING ALUMINUM CHLORIDE Filed Aug. 31, 192e 7 m11 for@ Patented Nov. ;v llQZ@ narran stares sanear ermenannate .amos in. Bunny, or nos memes, canmomvra, ANDHENRY nrnnmrnnne, an.;

or amara, Nirvana y 4raocnss or manine .annnnvun onnomnn application led August 31, '1926. Serial' 'o.,132,889;.

Uur invention relates to a process of mak-v y hole 1 of shell 1 andheated until itis melted ing aluminum chloride.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved process of making anhydrous 5 aluminum chloride which overcomes the defect present in the old process whereby molten aluminum is subjected to a chloridizing condition by passing chlorine gas over the molten metal. l

In the old processthe reaction is retarded by the formation of aluminum oxide preventing the intimate contact necessary for a clean cut reaction between the chlorine and the aluminum metal lmth.

llt is an ob'ect ofthis invention t0 provide means Where y such oxidization as well as the formation of aqueous vapor is prevented and the aluminum metal in the presence of a chloridizingagent is quicklyconverted into an anhydrous aluminum chloride, practically freel of water of cr stallization.

It is another ogject of this invention to subject molten aluminum in arotating drum in:` the presence4 of a reducing agent such as carbon and the like to a chloridizing agent and :to recover the sublimated anhydrous aluminum chloride in a continuous process.

Our invention consistsin the steps lof the process hereinafter described and claimed In the accompanying drawing we have shown an apparatus in diagram suitable for carrying out our process.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of an apparatus suitable for carrying out our process.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the rotating cylinder.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents a cylindrical shell rovided with radial agitata v Our process 1s partlcularly adapted 'to metallic aluminum scraps such as' old castings ing blades 2 in w ich the metal aluminum is melted and kept in a molten condition by means of suitable heating apparatus such as a furnace 3, 4 4 indicate means for revolving the cylin'drical shell 1. Chlorine gas is introduced through pipe 5 entering the shell 1 at 6 and the aluminum chloride formed in the shell 1 is conducted through apertures 7 of the shell to a conduit 8 to a con-denser 9 of any suitable or preferred construction, said condenser being preferably hopper shaped 10 at the bottom.

'- Aluminum is introduced by meansof man-- requiring about 700? C. A quantityof pow dered charcoal or other carbonaceous matter or other reducing agent such as carbon monoxide, is introduced with the aluminum which serves to combine 'with any oxygen that may be present either in the melt or other; wise introduced into the shell 1 and prevents the formation .of aluminum oxide, being itself gradually converted into either carbon dioxide orcarbon monoxide or,v both.

The chlorine gas entering the shell 1 comes in intimate contact with the4v molten metal which it will be understood, is constantly agitated by. reason of the revolution of the shell 1 provided with the agitation blades reaction takes place as follows:

rlhe aluminum chloride formed is sublimated and condensed in the condenser 9 while the uncondensed ases such ascarbon monoxide and carbn dioxideare permitted to vesca e through a valved 'outlet pipe 9" from the condenser.. The condensed anhydrous alumi-T` num chloride will settle in the shape of fine yellow crystals to the hopper bottom 10 of the condenser andimay. thence be packed into air tight metal drums or any other suitable conand the like which are more or less in oxidized condition for the revolving of shell 1 will thoroughly mix and agitato the molten metal with the carbonaceous material thereby accelerating the reaction between the chlorine and the aluminum, and preventing the formation of any aqueous vapor, when hydrochloric acid is used.

The reaction takes place under ordinary pressure.

2. The

The resutin'g aluminum chloride is practically free rom water of crystallization. In

our experiments notmore than 1-2 per cent of 'water was contained in the aluminum chloride produced;

Various changes inthe steps of the process may be madeggvithout -departing from the spirit of our ini'entom' as clained.

We claim:

comprising subjecting molten` aluminum to the action of chlorine in the presence of a carbon capable of acting as a reducing agent un- Y der agitation and condensingathe aluminum l chloride vapors formed.

In testimony whereof we have signed our v names to thisfecication. -A.

`BULEY. I HENRY BLUMENBERG, JR.

*A process of making aluminiim' chloride l 

